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Music & Voice Lessons
Develop creative expression through music and song! We believe the arts provide personal growth and development for all ages and abilities. our caring and qualified instructors provide individualized attention in a 30-minute private lesson. voice, piano, guitar, and string instrument lessons are available. Students will have the opportunity to participate in our spring recital, held annually in April.
All lessons are taught by professional instructors with prior teaching experience; most of our teachers also perform locally and regionally, either as solo artists or as members of ensembles.
Music lessons are offered in two calendar sessions throughout the year. New students may begin as schedule allows. Times vary-call for open times.
*Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Winter 2021 music lessons will be offered in a virtual format for 7 weeks.*
Contact Laura Drake, Arts & Humanities Director at 608-519-5513.
Guitar - Virtual Winter 2021
Meet our instructors:
Doug Mahlum is a long-time local entertainer, teaches guitar at the Houser YMCA and Holmen Lutheran Church locations. He has spent many years soloing around the Coulee Region, including performances with Viterbo’s Platinum Edition. For over 33 years, Doug was the lead singer, and trumpet, flugelhorn and rhythm guitar performer with Double-Take, a local variety band. Doug was a member of the La Crosse Coulee Chordsmen Barbershop chorus and the lead singer of New Image, a barbershop, jazz, and bebop quartet, for over 20 years. He continues to be a member and soloist with the Coulee Region Gospel choir since joining in 1995. Most recently, he and his three young adult kids have started to entertain in the area as a group called “Family Matters.” Doug teaches guitar and ukulele at the YMCA.
Matt Fisher Is a graduate of UW-La Crosse with two majors, one in English and one in French. He’s been playing guitar for nine years, but has been studying music on various different instruments for thirteen years.
Piano - Virtual Winter 2021
Meet our instructors:
Siyu Gao was born in Beijing, China and started to play the piano at a very young age. She participated in numerous school musical performances from elementary school through high school. After receiving degrees in piano performance and music education and studying under Dr. Zhou Guangren for ten years, she served as a piano teaching assistant for three years at China’s leading music school, the Central Conservatory of Music. Siyu has been teaching private lessons in La Crosse since 2014 and is a passionate and caring piano teacher. She welcomes students of all ages, music interests and abilities and especially enjoys teaching young beginners and helping them find their love for music. She believes each student is an individual with a unique learning style and strives to tailor her instruction to fit the student.
Ukulele - Virtual Winter 2021
Meet our Instructors:
Doug Mahlum is a long-time local entertainer, teaches beginner guitar at the YMCA-North branch. He has spent many years soloing around the Coulee Region, including performances with Viterbo’s Platinum Edition. For over 33 years, Doug was the lead singer, and trumpet, flugelhorn and rhythm guitar performer with Double-Take, a local variety band. Doug was a member of the La Crosse Coulee Chordsmen Barbershop chorus and the lead singer of New Image, a barbershop, jazz, and bebop quartet, for over 20 years. He continues to be a member and soloist with the Coulee Region Gospel choir since joining in 1995. Most recently, he and his three young adult kids have started to entertain in the area as a group called “Family Matters.” Doug teaches guitar and ukulele at the YMCA.
Matt Fisher Is a graduating student of UW-La Crosse with two majors, one in English and one in French. He’s been playing guitar for nine years, but has been studying music on various different instruments for thirteen years.